The ‘Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology’ is user friendly for students and teachers of pharmacology all over the country. Simple and stepwise description of experimental procedure, diagrams and review exercises have been the strength of the book.
“Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology” has been thoroughly revised and several new areas of current importance to pharmacy students (clinical pharmacy, clinical research, toxicology) have been added. The new edition is expected to serve the students of pharmaceutical sciences, allied health disciplines and scientists involved in drug discovery process working in the industry and national laboratories alike. The clinical research academies may find the book very useful as well.

In a global environment drug discovery and drug development have been the challenges of the pharmaceutical industry. The economics of drug discovery is the main constraint. This is covered in a chapter on “Drug Discovery Process”. Several new experiments have been incorporated under isolated as well as intact preparations. These are definitely value addition to, otherwise a popular book.

4. Experiments on Isolated Preparations
4.1 : To record a concentration response curve (CRC) of acetylcholine using isolated rectus abdominis muscle preparation of frog
4.2 : To record the effect of physostigmine (eserine) on the CRC of acetylcholine using isolated rectus abdominis muscle preparation of frog
4.3 : To record the effect of d-tubocurarine on the CRC of acetylcholine using isolated rectus abdominis muscle preparation of frog
4.4 : To record the CRC of histamine and its modification by an antihistaminic using isolated guinea pig ileum preparation
4.5 : To calculate pA2 value for atropine using acetylcholine as an agonist employing isolated guinea pig ileum preparation
4.6 : To find out the strength of the given sample of acetylcholine by interpolation bioassay using isolated rectus abdominis muscle preparation of frog
4.7 : To estimate the strength of an unknown sample of acetylcholine by four point bioassay using isolated rectus abdominis muscle of frog
4.8 : To record the CRC of 5-hydroxytryptamine using isolated rat fundus strip preparation
4.9 : To record the CRC of noradrenaline using isolated rat anococcygeus muscle preparation
4.10 : To record the concentration-response curve of acetylcholine and its modification by atropine using isolated rat colon preparation and to determine the dose ratio (EC50) of acetylcholine in the presence and absence of atropine
4.11 : To record CRC of oxytocin using isolated rat uterus preparation
4.12 : To record the concentration-dependent contractile responses of phenylephrine on the isolated rat vas deferens preparation

5. Experiments on Intact Preparations GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY
5.1 : To study different routes of administration of drugs in mice
5.2 : To study the effect of hepatic microsomal enzyme induction on the duration of action of pentobarbital sodium PHARMACOLOGY OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS)
5.3 : To study the effect of pentobarbital on righting reflex (hypnosis) in mice
5.4 : To study the CNS depressant property effect of chlorpromazine on the locomotor activity of mice using actophotometer
5.5 : To study the apomorphine-induced compulsive behaviour (stereotypy) in mice
5.6 : To study the muscle relaxant property of diazepam in mice using rota-rod apparatus
5.7 : To study the analgesic effect of morphine in mice using the tail-flick method
5.8 : To study the analgesic effect of morphine in mice using hot plate method
5.9 : To study the analgesic effect of morphine against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice
5.10 : To study the anticonvulsant activity of phenytoin against maximal electro-shock-induced convulsions in rats
5.11 : To study the anticonvulsant property of diazepam against pentylenetetrazol-induced clonic convulsions in mice
5.12 : To study the antianxiety effect of diazepam in mice using elevated plus-maze apparatus
5.13 : To study the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect of diazepam in mice using elevated zero-maze apparatus
5.14 : To study the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect of diazepam in mice using mirrored-chamber apparatus
5.15 : To study the antidepressant activity of imipramine using forced swim test
5.16 : To study phenothiazine-induced catatonia in rats
5.17 : To study the amnesic (loss of memory) effect of scopolamine using passive avoidance step-down task paradigm in mice PHARMACOLOGY OF INFLAMMATION
5.18 : To study the anti-inflammatory property of indomethacin against carrageenan-induced acute paw oedema in rats
5.19 : To study the anti-inflammatory activity of dexametha- sone (steroid) using croton-oil-induced ear oedema in mice
5.20 : To study the local anti-proliferative or anti-inflammatory activity and also to study the thymolytic or adrenolytic activity of steroids using cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats
5.21 : To study the local anti-asthmatic activity of dexamethasone against sephadex-induced lung oedema in rats
5.22 : To study the anti-histaminic activity of cetirizine against histamine-induced lethality in guinea pigs PHARMACOLOGY OF GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT (GIT)
5.23 : To study the effect of physostigmine and atropine on ciliary movement in frog buccal cavity
5.24 : To study the antisecretory and ulcer protective effect of cimetidine in pylorus-ligated rats PHARMACOLOGY OF LOCAL ANAESTHETICS
5.25 : To study the local anaesthetic property of procaine hydrochloride using Sollman method (foot withdrawal reflex of frog)
5.26 : To study the mydriatic effect of topically applied atropine on rabbit eye PHARMACOLOGY OF CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
5.27 : To study the inotropic and chronotropic effects of drugs on perfused frog heart
5.28 : To study the effect of drugs on normal and hypodynamic frog heart
5.29 : To study the effect of noradrenaline, acetylcholine and isoprenaline on the coronary blood flow and heart rate using rat isolated heart (Langendorff’s heart preparation)
5.30 : To record the effects of acetylcholine and noradrenaline on the blood pressure and electro-cardiography of an anaesthetised rat
5.31 : To demonstrate the effects of drugs on blood pressure in anaesthetized rat PHARMACOLOGY OF ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
5.32 : To study the anti-diabetic effect of glibenclamide against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats
5.33 : To study the anti-obesity effect of sibutramine against high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFHS)-induced obesity in mice TOXICOLOGY
5.26 : To determine the acute toxicity of a given drug (To calculate LD50 value)

6. Clinical Pharmacy

7. Clinical Research

8. Biostatistics

APPENDIX — Commonly used drugs, their doses and nature of action in laboratory animals